The House has voted 65-2 in favor of Rep. Don Cheatham’s bill to allow active military members to carry concealed guns within city limits without a permit even if they’re not Idaho residents, after a motion to send the bill to the House’s amending order failed, 7-60. Rep. Ron Nate, R-Rexburg, made the motion, saying he thought the bill should be expanded to let anyone, resident or not, carry a concealed gun in cities; Rep. Christy Zito, R-Hammett, seconded the motion.

Several members debated against Nate’s motion. House Assistant Majority Leader Brent Crane, R-Nampa, said, “I would support their amendment, however I think it should come as a separate piece of legislation – we should not hijack this bill by allowing it to go to general orders.” House GOP Caucus Chairman John VanderWoude, R-Nampa, said, “I think it’s important that we respect those who are carrying bills and drafting bills. If the sponsor is comfortable with the way the bill is, I think we should debate the bill on the floor and not try to change it. If someone wants to change it, let them bring their own bill.”

Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blacnahrd, countered, “I see no problem with moving this to the amending order to clarify this to open it up for more citizens. It’s done all the time, it’s not a big deal, it’s something that we have the ability to do from the floor. I think by sending this to the amending order we are going to expand gun rights for more citizens. So I’m in favor of doing this.”

But the motion failed by an overwhelming margin – so large that Nate will be awarded the “crow” at the end of today’s session. That’s a traveling mock-trophy statue of a crow that’s awarded to the sponsor of a proposal that fails sharply in the House, getting 18 or fewer votes; that member has to keep the crow until someone else earns it.